Saturday, February 20, 2016

A reputed mob bookmaker and associate of the Genovese crime family
with Springfield ties pleaded guilty in federal court to burning down
his own restaurant for $190,000 in insurance money.
John A. Barile, 52, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Friday to arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion offenses.
Prosecutors said that when Barile's Middleton eatery, Enzo's, fell on
hard times, he hatched a plan to burn it to the ground. He and other
began plotting to torch the restaurant in 2009, court records state.
"Barile informed his (unnamed) co-owner of the plan and sought
information from at least one individual on how to start the fire to
make it look like an accident," according to a statement by the U.S.
Attorney's Office in Connecticut.
On Jan. 9, 2010, Barile positioned greasy rags around a deep-fryer
and greased up the walls, prosecutors said. Later that night after the
restaurant was closed, he made sure multiple rags had caught fire and
left the restaurant without calling the fire department.
Barile waltzed out, but left his co-owner inside, according to prosecutors.

"The Middletown Fire Department arrived a
short time later, forced entry, rescued the co-owner and put out the
fire," prosecutors said.

"The Middletown Fire Department arrived a short time later, forced entry and rescued the co-owner." - Feds

After the fire, the defendant sought money from an insurance company,
concealing his role in the fire from the insurance company and law
enforcement. The insurance company ultimately paid $189,787.69 to
Barile to settle the his claims.
Also, from 2010 to 2014, Barile operated a $2000-per-day illegal
sports-betting ring, prosecutors contend. On Nov. 8, 2011, he hit one
perennial bettor who owed him $50,000 with a Taser in a Hartford parking
lot.
Barile was arrested on Jan. 5, and released on $350,000 bail. Prosecutors say he is staying with a family member in Enfield.

Barile has been on the FBI's radar since 1994 when he was arrested
with members of the Genovese crime family's western New England branch
during a gambling crack-down in Hartford. Arrested with Barile were the
late Francesco "Skyball" Scibelli and Carmine "Carlo" Mastrototaro, the
Genovese capos in Springfield and Worcester, Mass.
Barile was charged with racketeering using threats of violence to
collect street debts. FBI officials have said he worked for Tony Volpe,
the Hartford lounge owner who ran Hartford for the Genovese family.
Barile and an associate from Springfield, a 250-pound former pro
wrestler known as "Big Pat" Poland, were given 30-month sentences after
pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
In the current case, he faces up to 65 years in prison at his sentencing hearing, scheduled for May 6.